Time was when Iloilo was the leading center of the textile and other weaving crafts in the Philippines. The province's weaving industry dates back to preSpanish period when the Ilonggo-Bisaya at that time wove textiles from cotton, abaca, pineapple, as well as silk bartered with the Chinese. In the 19th century, Iloilo was already known as "the textile center" of the Philippines and was exporting
a considerable quantity of hand-woven materials to other parts of the country and abroad. The district of Arevalo has long been involved in the tradition of Jusi weaving. "Damaso" or silk-thread is the primary raw material used in weaving Jusi and was considered a luxury item imported from China during the post WWII period. Cruz, Arevalo. looms or "tiral" were kept busy when Jusi was in fashion in the mid 1950's. In the late 1960's, mercerized cotton thread was introduced as a raw material in handweaving. It was during this period that the term "Hablon", referring to the hand-woven made from this cotton was popularized.
